Page 77 of The Moon Sister
‘Thanks for getting this stuff for me, but I’m afraid I can’t accept it.’
‘Why not?’
A million answers – every single one of which would be beyond rude – came into my head. I managed to desist because I knew Charlie needed Zed’s business. I offered him only a lame, ‘I just can’t.’
‘Good.’ To my surprise, he clapped his hands together with what seemed like glee. ‘You just passed the first test! I can now declare that, without a doubt, you are different from every other woman I have ever met.’
‘Really?’ I said, anger rising inside me. ‘Well, I’m glad I’ve made you happy by passing a test I didn’t even know I was taking. Now, please, can I just get on with my job here?’ I turned to walk away, but he stepped forward and gently grasped my arm.
‘Tiggy, I see I have made you angry. I am very sorry; in retrospect I can see it was a stupid thing to do. But, well, you cannot imagine what it is like being me.’
‘No, I can’t,’ I agreed with feeling.
‘I mean, the women I meet . . . It may sound like first-world problems, but I can never be sure if they like me for me, or for what I can offer them.’
And I can’t be sure if I like you at all . . .
‘Yup, first-world problems,’ I said. ‘About as first world as they get, actually.’
‘I just wanted to make sure that you could not be bought.’
‘Right. Well, now you know I can’t be, I need to go out.’
‘Yes, of course. I will cancel the helicopter – it was a ridiculous idea, but I wanted to fly us both out of Kinnaird so we could get to know each other better. The whole thing was well intentioned. Forgive me.’
‘Sure. Thanks for the thought anyway.’
He walked towards the door, then turned round.
‘By any chance . . . I mean, as the helicopter is here, and it seems like a waste, would you like to take a trip over the estate? No strings attached, I promise, and I will have you back down by two.’
I actuallywouldlove to, I thought,it would be amazing to see it from the air. But . . .
‘Er, no thanks, Zed. I’m afraid I really hate helicopters. I had to fly in one when we transferred from La Môle to my father’s boat in Saint-Tropez and it just made me feel sick. Now, excuse me, I really do have work to do.’
With that, I walked to the cottage door and opened it for him. Finally taking the hint, and with his head bowed like a naughty schoolboy, Zed left.
16
Opening the front door the following morning, I found a huge bouquet of flowers and an envelope addressed to me on the mat outside. I picked them up and went back inside to open the missive.
I unfolded the sheet of paper from the envelope and studied the beautiful scripted hand, written in ink.
Kinnaird Lodge
5th January 2008
My dear Tiggy,
A small token to once again offer my apologies for my crude and thoughtless behaviour of yesterday.
Can we start again, please?
Zed
‘Humph!’ I said to Thistle as I walked across to the Lodge.
‘Morning, Tiggy,’ Beryl said as I entered the kitchen to find her frying bacon. ‘Are you well?’
